Incubator



C- M. HECK.

INCUBATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-16. ISIS.

1 ,3 1 4,473. Patented Aug. 26, 191-9.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

C. M. HECK.

mcuuoa.

APPUCATION FILED JAR- 16.1915.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEH' 3.

fiweratarv Min/A44 OP OE O9 errant-us M. Knox, or mnmmnon'm cnnonma INGUIBATOZB.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

Application filed January 16, 1915. Serial No. 2,608.

To all uihom it may concern:

, tion, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improved inoubator and more particularly that type generally known as e Mammoth incubator,

although the many features of the invention are applicable to other types of incubators.

Among the various ob'ects of the invention, the follow may e' stated: the provision of an in ddbator formed in units or sections, so that the capacity of, the incubator may be increased or decreased according to requirements; an incubator wherem quick automatic control of the temperature and ventilation is due under various stages of incubation; an incubator whereby the temperature within the incubator is controlled automatically by air supply having difl'erent temperatures; to provide animproved moisture supply under automatic control; an incubator having a series of removable tra s or e g" carriers with means for closing the incu removal of a tray or carrier; an incubator having reversible egg carriers or trays with means for rotating the trays from without the incubator; an incubator having means for supplying fresh air to the eggs and for removm the contaminated air atdifi'erent points a jacent the eggs, while maintaining rages-supply of fresh air to the 'underlyin trays; an incubator having means for coo ing the interior thereof without the admission of cool air directly to the same; an incubator built in sections and having a primary heat supply for all the sections, and a secondary heat supply automatically controlled @for difi'erent sections or at different points in the incubator chamber; and finally, an incubator which is well adapted for the treatment of'a large number of eggs with the relative] economical heat su pl ing device, and w erein' perfect ventllation and proper heat conditions are maintained. Of

course, it is to be understood that there are.

many other features which will presently be described, all of which are important in their general association and combination.

ator chamber upon the a in a header B. The air heating space While a special form of construction is 7 shown, it is to be understood that such forms and proportions of parts may be varied and changed without materially departing from the nature and spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional elevation of a furnace and incubator with 1ts connecting1 parts and parts being broken away, for t e purposes to be presently stated.

Fig. 2 isa detail view of a section of the incubator chamber showing parts broken away and parts in elevation,

F1g. 3 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 2, show parts broken away,

Fig. 4 is a detail eiifview of one of the holding trays and its associated parts,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through one of the tray drawers, showing its associated parts and showing the egg trays in end elevation,

6 is a top plan view of the brooder section,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the tray drawer, showing the relative arrangement of the trays, and the position of ad acent tray Fig. 8 is a heater, and

Fig. 9 is'a detail view of a cooler.

Fig. 10 is an elevation ofthe damper.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the incubator is shown with its supporting uprights A broken away at their lowerend to indicate that the incubator structure itself is on a plane considerably above the plane of the eater or heat suppl 'ng device, which is shown at the right. he bottom A of the incubator'will normally occupy a sition approximately on a line or plane 0 an upper portion of the furnace or heater for puroses presently to be described. The heater .may be of any convenient form, conveniently a stove or furnace havin a fire pot b with fuel and air pit doors. is surrounded by a ]acket, much as an ordinary hot air furnace, and the jacketed space B, has an air suppl 3) at its lower portion, which is controlliad by a rotary damper of any convenient form, as at b. Entering the upper part of the combustion chamher of the furnace is an air heating pipe B? opening from the air chamber B, and terminating in a series of risers B merging 5 detail view of a supplemental he fire pot extends to the top of the furnace, as is usual,

5 versely and terminates in the top of the incubator chamber, in a manner presently to be described. Located in the upper end of the air chamber B is the heating dome b, from which leads an indirect flue b to the outlet or uptake b. The direct draft flue is indicated at 6 having an upwardly extended branch 1) controlled by a vertically movable damper b ,'which is in the form of a valve adapted to fit a seat 6. In the passageway b from the dome, there is a controlling damper b Both the valve and the damper will be presently described in connection with the general control.

From the header B extends what will be termed a hot air suppl pipe B, the same being conveniently ositioned in the warm air flue B and terminating at the upper end of the incubator chamber in a manner presently to be described.

furnace is a water receptacle C, having a suitable fill opening and discharge opemng of any convenient form. Through this receptacle suitable warm air flues c are formed, which are conveniently located substantially in the center of the water compartment. Below the water chamber C is an insulating damper C having a handle portion 0' arranged at the outside of the chamber, so that the said damper may be turned to bring the openings 0 thereof in line with the warm air flues c, as shown in Fig. 1. This arrangement permits the warm air from the jacketed chamber to pass directly up through the water in the reservoir C and to heat the same to a pro r temperature for supply' ator By cutting o the' heat through the turning of the damper, and owing to the heat insulating character of the dam er, the water in the reservoir may be allow to cool when desired. C represents a wick of considerable width, having its lower ed e dippedinto the water of the reservoir 6, and its upper edge projected into the warm air flue, which flue is somewhat enlarged, as at B", The wick is held in position and is superheated by the following means. C represents a hollow ring shaped flue fixedly secured on the top of the wall of the receptacle and held in position thereon. Leading into this fine is a branch pipe a from the hot air ipe B. This circular flue C has a vertica outer wall around which the wick is fitted, and the wick is raised or lowered by any convenient means, such as star wheels 0. 'Do create a circulation ofhot air from the hot air pipe B through the wick heating chamber and flue C, a valve controlled port 66 c is employed, leading out from the top of At the top of the warm air chamber of the moisture to t e incu- 1 the superheating chamber C", and which port is controlled by a hygrostatically operated valve C. The hygrostat, in this instance, is shown diagrammaticall at C. In addition to the automatic contro by the hygrostat, the valve C may be adjusted for proper control by means of the nut 0. The operation of this feature of the invention may be stated as follows: That as the moisture becomes below the normal or desired point, the hygrostat will raise the valve C and create a circulation of hot air directly through the heating flue C, which will heat the W101! 0 and thereby increase the evaporation and the moisture carried over by the warm air passlng through the pipe B. The application of hot air to the wick, as indicated, permits a very accurate control of the moisture carried over by the warm air. It will be noted that the term warm air is applied to that air which is delivered to the incubator from the jacket of the furnace, while the term hot air is employed as indicating the air which is delivered to the incubator through the smaller pipe leading from the superheater, which is located in the fire pot. I

The incubator chamber is composed, conveniently, of a series of units, re resented in the drawing as having a top D, intermediate sections D and D and a brooder section D. Each unitis composed of side walls of heat insulating material, the. front and the rear wall being conveniently of sin 1e" thickness, as distin ished from a doulfie or spaced walls, while the side walls, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, are double walls having air, spaces therehetween to constitute not onl msulating spaces but ventilating flues. Each section is made with the inner portions stepped or on a higher plane than the outer portion of the walls, as shown in Fig. 1 at a, and the edges are rabbetted so that a perfect fit is secured when the parts are located one on top of the other.

In the top section I) is located a deflector E directly below the inlet of the warm air pipe B, By the use of this deflector the incoming warm air is distributed outwardly toward the side walls of the incubator chamber. On the deflector conveniently is positioned a thermostat F, which controls through suitable levers the actuatin lever F for operating the valves of the ester. These various levers and rods are shown generally diagrammatically, but the arrangement and purpose will be readily understood. The outer end of the operating lever F carries a vertically reciprocating damper rod F, which passes through an operating arm of the damper b and has t ereabove a nut f adapted to contact the arm of the damper, after the rod F 2 has moved down a considerable distance. The valve b isloosely mounted on the rod F and gunfire a is lifted from its seat by upward movement of the rod through the instrumentality of a nut or Shoulder f fixed on the rod. These I1parts are so arranged that upon the upwa movement of the rod F, the damper B will be released and rocked to an open position by having a weight b thereon. :In this position, theI indirect draft is open and the direct is closed. Should the fire pot need a direct draft the further upward movement of the rod l3" will unseat the valve B andcause a direct draft to '0 through the uptake. On the air inlet' 5 o the air .chamber B is, as above stated, the rotary damper or out ofl b. The operati arm of damper b is weighted-at b,-(see e ovation Fig. 10) and the lower end of rod F is connected to this arm at a point between 6 and the axis of the damper. The parts carried by the rod F areso positioned that u on an overheating of the incubator the t ermostat F will cause the air inlet damper b to open, allowing an abundance of fresh air into the chamber B, from whence it will issue into the top of the incubator, and owing to its volume, the temperature thereof will be re duced. .Upon a further movement, the draft throu h the fire will be reduced by, the closing 0 the direct flue damper and a subsequent closin of the indirect flue. Upon a reversal of t e conditions, the weight will reposition the parts as the thermostat collapses, closing the air inlet against a superabundance of airopening the indirect damper, in the first instance, and subsequently the direct damper. It will therefore be seen that, by the arrangement, an automatic control of the ventilating air, as well as the fire .of the heater, is secured through the thermostat, conveniently located in the incubator chamber.

The hot air pipe B terminates in a spreader B directly above the spreading cone E and is provided at or near its outlet with a damper B"; This damper is also under the control of the thermostat F, sothat the amount of hot air is, readily controlled and cut off. The relative action of the hot air and warm air pipes may be in short described as follows. When the temperature falls too low in the incubator chamber the hot air pipe is opened, which not only admits air of high temperature into the incubator,

but makes the entire line hotter, therefore increasing the draft from the warm air chamber'up the warm air pipe, but as the inlet to the warm air chamber has simul taneously been constricted the air from the warm 3,11? pipe has also a higher temperature.

Thus the whole heat capacity of the furnace through both pipes quickly cotiperate to restore the desired temperature. This action is distinguished from apparatus wherein the fire or primary sourceof heat is increased or diminished to control the temperature.

Thesevariou'sparts, g'overnable by the thermostat, can be set for different conditions in air and visibie through a glazed opening By observing the rapidity of rotation of this indicator, it can be ascertained whether the relative amount of air passing out of any exit flue, L", is too great or too small. Comparing the decrease of the rapidity of rotation of G caused by closing one exit flue with the decrease under the same circumstances when closing another exit flue the needed adjustment of the opening in the one flue to equalize the flow between 'thetwo flues will be indicated.

The hatching sections of the incubator are provided wlth a series of tray carriers in" the form of drawers H, each drawer being of substantially rectangular formation and mounted to slide on suitable cleats or tracks h secured to the side walls of the incubator chamber. Each carrier or drawer is rovided with ves H, which extend ro'm at or near 1: e center of the drawer at the sides to the upper edge. The lower end of these grooves form hearings or supports for pintles or hubs I secured respectively to the egg trays H l hese tra s are shown as rectangular and substantia ly square in cross section and are designed to accommodate a large number of eggs stacked conveniently in rows of three, one on to of the other. They are divided interiorly ypartitions h and are covered both bottom and top by wire gauze h", the same being held on suitioo able removable frames slidably supported in grooves h. Owing to the pivotal mounting of these trays or egg carriers, it is evident that they can be turned on their axes, so as to reverse the eggs as required. To eflect a ready reversal of all the carriers (three car,- riers to the drawer being shown) a pinion i is secured to one of the shafts, which pinion meshes with a reciprocating rack I mounted in the side of the drawer, its end projecting throu h the front of the drawer, where it is provi ed with a suitably articulated handle i fitting in a recess in the front of the drawer, so that the rack bar can be shoved in or pulled out a suflicient distance to properly rotate the various trays one half turn. The rear art of the drawer H is provided with a headed button H, which takes into a recess formed in the central part of a false door or closure Hf. This closure is fashioned to fit the opening in the incubator wall presently to be referred to. The object thereof is that in drawing the drawer out from the incubator, this follower will close the opening thereof and, by virtue of the interlocking connection of the button head H with the groove pocket, the drawer as a whole can e removed, leaving the false door H in the door opening. In the incubator, there is provided, through its forward single course well, an opening, as shown in Fig. 5, designated at J. This opening is normally closed by a glazed door J provided with a suitable latch, the door opening downward. The tray carrying drawer is also provided at its front which constitutes a door with a glazed opening part J through which a temperature indicator can be readily observed. The front J a is provided with a hand hold 7' for the purposes of pulling out the drawer.

When a drawer with its egg tray is to be re moved, the door J 2 is lowered and the drawer is out, but to prevent the cold air from coming into contact with the eggs, a slide K is employed fitting in grids or grooves in the to of the drawer, and which is carefully shove in as the drawer is drawn out. This effectually closes the drawer during its progress outward and prevents the escape of the heated air from the incubator and likewise the cold air from entering the drawer, all as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

To intercept the circulation ofvitiated air after it has passed through the egg trays in contact with the. eggs, I- provide a series of air pans L, shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5, and in Fig. 4. These pans are fixedly positioned across the incubator and are of a width and length equal to that of the egg trays. Their edges are'sloped as at Z, so

that in turning the egg tray, full freedom is permitted, while the entire bottom of the tray is practically covered when the trays are in their normal position, as shown in Fig. 5. Leading from the end of each pan into the hollow side wall of the incubator chamber, are perforated extensions L there being a series of perforations leadlng horizontally through the nipple or extension.-

L represents pipe elbows having their horizontal ends'pivotally seated in the inner wall of the hollow side of the incubator chamber section and adapted to turn slightly in its bearing thus formed. The inner end of the elbow is provided with a erforated plug 3 arranged so that the per orations Wlll re ister with the perforations of the plug in one position, and be out of register upon turning the elbow. To enable the elbows to be turned, bars L* are employed, which are connected to extensions of the elbows, the ends of the bars extending through the side of the casing, as shown in Fig. 5. The incoming air'passes down between the eggs in the trays into the pans L, out through the able, coo ers hi,

perforated nipples at the ends throu h the elbow pipes down into the exhaust due of the incubator and from there out through thebottom A, as shown in Fig.1. By turning the elbows slightly, the exit of theair can be regulated. By this means also, in conjunction with the indicator G the movement of the air through the incubator can be readily ascertained, and the parts set to supply e required amount. It may be noted, especially with reference to Fig. 5, that upon the lowering of the door J, the rod L will be struck and upon the removal of the egg trays, all the dampers inthe pipe elbows Wlll be closed, reventing theescape of fresh air through c pans. I refer to have each drawer provided with ree well separated egg trays H, the distance between every two trays being slightl difierent from the width of the tray, as own in Fig. 7 and directly below this space will be place the trays of a lower drawer. In this articular, the arrangement is such that there will be three tra s to each drawer, which trays will normally bear a staggered relation with each other. This permits a free circulation of fresh air to be passed between the uppermost trays into and-thro h the lowermost trays, there being additiona room between the upper and lowermost trays to permit air to eirculatedown into still lower trays. It is also so far as I know, broadly new to extract the vitiated air from upper trays as it leaves the eggs. This is a condition which will be recognized as being advantageous.

It is often desirable to interpose into certain zones of the incubator, a cooling medium, but it isrecogniz'ed that projecting air directly into the incubator has a disturbing and detrimental effect. I therefore have arranged in the incubator below the drawers and ans hollow grid U-shaped removthe same consisting of side bars and a central bar with headers, as shown in detail in Fig. 9. These separate coolin grids have end nip les which engage with si able pipes m lea through one These coolers may be arranged at different 1 places or points in the incubator, as desired, and may be controlled by thermostat operatin cut oif M in the nipple.

%t is often found necessary, also, in the larger type of incubators, to into an intermediate heater, and with this in View,

heater is conveniently set into the wall of the I have provided, in one of the intermediate sections, as shown in Fig. 1, a heat distributer N. This is shown in detail in Fig. 9 and consists of a construction, substantially that of the coolers, except the upper surfaces thereof are perforated so as to permit the escape of air into the incubator. The

incubator in any sultable manner, and has a supply tube n. Leadin out through one side to this ipe, is coup ed a hot a1r supply pipe N eadmg from the hefider B. A thermostat N is provided for this supplemental heat, which through suitable mechanism, controls a am er N, as shown in Fig. 1 diagrammatically. As soon as the temperature falls below the roper point, this valveN is operated, permitting hot air to enter from the saperheater directly into an intermediate part of the incubator. The lower section of the incubator is provided with a brooder chamber 0, having a circular' central opening 0, through which the heated air asses. For ventilating this brooder cham er 0, slides o are employed. The brooder is also provided with curtain openings 0 communicating with runways or balconies O, as shown in 6.

Gonvenientl in the bottom A of the incubator cham r, suitable air outlet openings aare provided. These openin preferablg communicate with anexit pipe A*, whic terminates in an uptake A. This uptake extends to a point conveniently above the top of the incubator chamber, so that a forced draft is created within the incubator for readily extracting the vitiated air. This feature, in conjunction with the damper regulator for the primary air supply, ef-

fects a very quick action and maintains a healthy condition within the incubator at all time's. The outlets of may be governed, if desirable, by dampers a". There may be also placed in the bottom of the incubator, openings a governable by suitable pivoted valves which may be opened when the conditions of the interior of the. incubator may require. The entire structure of the incubator chamber is su ported on the uprights A, there convenient y being an upright at each corner, and raised on the cleats a.

. above the. center portion of the furnace or They, however, may be otherwise attached, if found desirable. From the above detailed descriptiom'it will be readily seen that I produce an incubator which can be properly regulated automatically, one which can be increased or diminished in size, and one which will perform the various functions heretofore referred to. The furnace can be located in a cellar, and the incubator in an upper floor, but as above stated, it is necessary to have the bottom of the incubator heater. This is essential, inasmuch as it sets up a natural draft, accelerated by the tion thereof, and so without material opposition to the natural course or movement of the air. Many hundreds of eggs can be treated in this incubator properly and with the maintenance of an exact condition, the eggs can be handled readily andrenioved and replaced when desired, without permitting the inrush of cold air to the incubator chamber.- Each tray may be taken from its drawer and replaced, or the brooder can be taken from an upper course and placed in a lower course or section. Each. brooder is readily moved outward for in spection, and durin the hatching period the eggs can be distributed in reduced numbar in lower sections to revent overcrowding. It will be noted t at each section is rovided with what may be termed a double oor, namely, the end of the drawer and the door J.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an incubator, the combination with e volume of air supplled by the other supply.

2. In-an incubator, in combination with an incubating chamber containing a variable source of animal heat such as eggs, a hot air supply, a warm airsupply, means for conductlng air from said sup lies to said chamber a thermostat positioned to be influenced by the temperature of the air in said chamber and by radiant heat from said eggs, and means controlled by said thermostat for varyin the relative amount of air sent into the c amber from one of said supplies with respect to the amount sent into the chamber from the other suppl 3. In an incubator, the combination wi an incubating chamber, of a warm air an ply to said chamber a hot air supp y to said chamber, and means acting a chamber to reduce the volume of hot air supplied thereto and increase the volume of warm air supplied thereto simultaneously. A

t. In-an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamber, of a warm air supply, a hot air supply and means for conductin air therefrom to said chamber, a conduit from said warm air supply said chamber, a moisture supplying device in 7 ply therefor, a moisture said conduit, a thermostat in said chamher, and a damper for said hot air conducting means controlled by said thermostat.

5. In an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamber, of a warm air supsulppg comprisi a wick and a water supp y erefor, sai wick being positioned to be influenced by saidwarm air supply before entering said chamber, and hygrostatically controlled means for superhe'at' the wick.

6. In an incubatoi j ghe combination with an incubating chamber and a warm air supply, a flue leadin from said warm air supply to said ohm or, a moisture supplying device in said flue, said device comprising a water receptacle, an evaporating surface associated therewith, a flue passing through said receptacle with an opening adjacent said evaporating surface, a flue passing through said receptacle with an opening more remote from said surface, and means for relatively varying the volume of air through said flues.

7. In an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamber and a warm air supply, a flue leading from said supply to said chamber, a moisture supplying surface in.

said flue said surface be' m annular form of smaller width than sai flue, and adjustable means for causin the air passmg through said flueto be irected as adjusted through the center of said annular surface or outward between said surface and the walls of said flue.

8. In an incubator, the combination with a heater having at hot air supply, of a moisture supplying device comprising a reservoir and a wick dipping into said reservoir, a series of heatin ducts ieading through the reservoir, manuafiy o erated means for adjusting the openings t rough said ducts, and hygrostatically controlled means for ad'usting the heating. of said wicks from the eat of said hot air supply.

9. In an incubator, the combination of an incubatin chamber and means for sending into the c amber a current of air, of a plurality of spaced apart egg containers in said chamber, conduits beneath each container conducting out of said chamber all air passing through each respective container, ad- 'ustable outlets for said conduits and a visile indicator 0 erated by the current of air entering said 0 amber.

10. In an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamber, of a, plurality of drawers within the chamber arone above another, said drawers having down their lengths an even number of spaced apart holders for removable tra s,

a series of trays in the alternate tray ho dname-re current as it passes between the trays, and

individual means associated with each of said trays hr conducting out of said cham? her all of the air passing through that tray. 12, In an incubator, 1n combination with an incubating chamber and means for causing a current of air to pass therethrough, of a series of egg trays in said chamber spaced apart with res ect to the line of flow of said current, t e eggs in said trays bein exposed to the common temperature and heat radiation within said chamber, and means for causing to pass between the eggs in any tray and out of said chamber a portion of said current, said means being ad- 'nstable to cause a relatively greater or esser flow through any one tray than through another.

13. In an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamber, of a sliding drawer therein having eg trays, a door in said chamber closing be ind *said drawer, means for turning the respective trays, and a handle associated with said means and having a jointed outer end adapted to be folded up between the drawer closure door and the end of the drawer.

14. In an incubator, the combination with an incubator chamber, of a sliding drawer therein, a false door movably connected to the rear end of said sliding. drawer, a removable slide fitted-to the upper part of the said drawer and egg trays located within the drawer.

15. In an incubator, the combination with a heater and a sectional incubatin chamber, of an end section for said eham er having a thermostat therein controlling said heater, of a middle section of said chamher having connection with said heater through a warm air conduit, and a thermostat in said middle section controlling the passage of air through said conduit.

16. In an incubator, the combination with an incubator chamber and an egg tray, of a main heated air supply, of a heater for the air controlled by a thermostat within said incubator chamber, and thermostatically controlled means for conducting heated air from the heater to the incubator below the main heat suppl and a thermostatically operated damper or the last said means.

17. In an incubator, the combination with an incubator chamber adapted to receive a current of heated air at one end, of a perforated pipe member extending thereacross at an intermediate point, means for conducting heated air to the perforated pipe member,a.nd an automatic fo n egntrolling the admission of air to said pi e member.

18. In an incubator, the com ination with an incubating chamber and a heater for de-. livering acurrent of warm air to. one end of the chamber, of means for supplying and circulating cold air through the incubator at a point intermediate the ends thereof.

19. In an incubator, the combination with an incubatingchamber adapted to receive a current of heated air at one end, a; plurality; of trays in saidv chamber spaced a art wit respect to said air admitting on of said chamber, a hollow structure between said trays and mean for causin a current of cold fluid to pass through said structure.

20. In an incubator, a plurality of e g trays arranged on different planes, indepen ent air removing devices for each tray, means for causing a current of heated air to pass down said chamber and adjustable means for causing any desired part of said cur- .rent to pass between the eggs on one level through the bottom of the'tray and out of the chamber before reaching the next layer of eggs on the lower level.

21. An incubator having a single incubating chamber composed of a series of removable verticaliy arranged sections, with means associated with the u per section for supplying heated air to the incubator chamber and means associated with each section for removing heatedtair. i

22. An incubator having an incubatin chamber composed of a series ofindepen ent removable sections, each section being provided with incubating egg trays, with means for supplying heat leading into an end section of the incubator, and means in each section for removing air near said trays from said chamber. a

23. A single chambered incubator formed of a seriesof independent removable vertically disposed interlocking sections, means for supplying heat leading into an end section of the incubator and means insertible in each section for supplying from the last said meansan auxiliary amount of heat to the chamber at the level of that section.

24. An incubator having an incubating chamber composed ofa series of independent sections vertically disposed with relation to each other, egg trays carried by each section, and vitiated air extractin means for each tray conducting out of t e chamber through the wall of that section all of the air vitiated by the eggs in that section.

25. An incubator havin an incubating chamber composed of a p urality of independent sections arranged edge to edge, the whole forming an egg receivin chamber, means for supplying a current 0 heated air to one end of the chamber, and means insertible in each section for causing the temperature of the air passing through that section to be reduced before passing into the next section.

26. In an incubator, a plurality of egg trays arranged in staggered relation, one above the other, and vltiated air removing means below each tray.

27. In an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamber, of a plurality of sliding drawers within the chamber arranged one above the other, a series of egg trays in the upperdrawer spaced apart, a series of trays in a lower-drawer spaced apart, and in staggered relation with the upper trays, and means associated with each tray for permitting the escape of vitiated air passed through the tray.

28. In an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamber, of a plurality of sliding drawers within the chamber arranged one above the other, a series of egg trays in an upper drawer spaced apart, a series of trays in a lower drawer spaced apart, and means associated with each tray for permitting the escape of the vitiated air that has passed through the tray.

29. An incubator having an egg tray chamber and air outlet flues at the side and openings for the chamber on difl'erent levels communicating with the said side outlet flues, means for supplying heat to the upper end of the incubator, and an air conducting flue leading from the lower end of the air outlet flues to a point above the incubator.

30. In an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamber comprising a series of vertically disposed interengaging sectiozis, eg carriers in each section andmeans for supp ying heat for the incubator chamber communicating with one.of the end sections thereof.

31. In an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamberand a heating means therefor, of a sliding drawer within the incubator chamber having a frontforming a closure for the chamber, an eg tray within the drawer, and a removable sli e closing the upper part of the drawer, said slide being insertible while the drawer is in position within the incubator.

32. In an incubator chamber, a sliding drawer having an egg tray therein, a front to said drawer formlng a closure for the chamber when in position in the chamber, of an imperforate sliding closure for the top of said drawer, said closure being insertible while "the drawer is in position inside the incubator.

33. In an incubator, the combination wit an incubating chamber and heater therefor, of an egg carrying drawer having an open top and bottom, an imperforate movable air excluding cover for the drawer movable into position While the drawer is in the incubator, and a closure for the drawer openhavin mg operable by the removal of the drawer from the chamber.

34. In an incubator, an incubating chamher and means for sending a current of heated air into the chamber at one end, a lurality ofrsliding drawers in saidcham er, said drawers having a front end forming a closure for said chamber and carrying a rear detachable door fitting into the drawer opening through the chamber wall to close Same when the drawer is removed, and a. slidable closure for the to of said drawer, said closure being inserti 1e while the drawer is in position within the incubator chamber to.

permit the drawer to be removed with substantially no escape of said air current through said opening while said drawer is being removed.

35. In an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamber having a drawer opening in its side wall and a closure therefor, of a sliding drawer adapted to pass through the openin into the incubator and a front en serving as a supplementa closure for said door opening, an imperforate sliding cover for said drawer insertibie through the front end of said drawer, and means operable by the outward movement of the drawer for closin said opening when the drawer is remove from the chamber.

36. In an incubator, a sliding drawer having a series of pivotally supported egg trays therein, inions on the trays,' a reclprocating rack ar operating the pinions, a ivotal extension on the end of the rack bar, t e end ortion of the drawer havin mclosing said pivotal extension when the rack bar is in one position.

37 Inan incubator,-the combination with an incubating chamber having a series of egg trays therein, of air removing devices located below each tray, pipes leading from said devices, and regulatin means interposed between the pipes and t c said devices, operable by the-movement of the pipes.

38. In an incubator the combination with an incubating chamber having an openin in its side wall, of a swinging door for sai opening, a drawer adapted to pass throu h said opening and to be positioned within t e incubating chamber, a plurality of egg trays within the drawer, means for removing vitiated air from belowthe trays, a damper for regulating the amount of. air removed from said trays, and means extending to without the incubator for operating the damper, said means being positioned to be engaged by the said swinging door for at tuation.

39. In an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamber having a series of egg trays arranged one above the other, slidmeans for carrying the trays, the inin cufiator having openings in the sides there a recess for for preventing the direct escape of heated air from the incubator through the o ning during the movement of the sli ing means therethrough.

40. In an incubator, the combination with a plurality of egg carrying sections formmg an unpartitioned chamber, of a breeder section insertible between said egg c sections, means sendin a current of air in series through all 0 said sections, and regulable means for deflecting .a portion of said current through the eggs in egg sections or over chicks in the brooder, section and out of the incubator.

41. In an incubator the combination with a plurality of interloc 'ng egg carrying sec tions forming a sectional and unpartitioned chamber,.of a brooder section interloc with said egg carryin sections, means sen ing a current of boats air in series throu h al of said sections, and means insertible in said egg carryin sections for changing the tern erature of t e air as it passes the last sai means.

42. In an incubator, the combination with a plurality of egg carrying sections forming an unpartitioned chamber, of a brooder section insertible between said egg carrying sections, means sending a current of. air through all of said sections in series, and means controlledby a thermostat in a sec tion intermediate of the ends of said chamber for changing the temperature of the air as it passes through the said thermostat holdin section.

43. n an incubator, the combination with a plurality of eg carrying sections for an unpartitione in a current of heated air through all of said sections in series, and means controlled by a thermostat in a section intermediate of the end sections of said chamber for changing the temperature of the air passing through said thermostat holdin section so that the current of air passing 1; erethrough is not varied in volume by said means but its temperature is changed uniformly across said section.

44. In an incubator the combination with a plurality of interloclring egdg carrying sections forming a sectional an unpartitloned chamber, of means sen chamber, of means sending a. current of heated air into an end sectionof and through said chamber, a thermostat controlling said with a s ace therebetween, the outer wall of said ouble walled side extending below the inner wall of the same side, to unite with the outer wall of a double walledside of a lower section on a line below the level of the line where the inner walls of the two sections unite, forming acontinuous tight flue with connections to the outside air at the bottom, and ventilating openings in each zection connecting said chamber with said ue.

4:6. In an incubator, the combination with an incubating chamber and means for sending a current of warm air through the cham- 15 her, of a plurality of egg carrying drawers in said chamber, said drawers being in hne with the direction of the said current of air, and permitting the passagie of air through the top and bottom of the rawers, openings in the wall of said chamber through which said drawers pass, and means; ooiiperating with the sides and ends of eacH drawer permitting the withdrawal of the drawer and lessening the escape of air from said chamber during the act of withdrawal.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES M. HECK. witliessesgB S. ACON CALVIN T. hirmns. 

